Connection terminal for electrical conductors

Abstract

The invention concerns a terminal for the connection of electrical conductors with a fixed current carrying strip using a movable clamping spring. The clamping spring is mounted to be movable in the nature of a plunger and contacts the electrical conductor and the current strip simultaneously, and is arranged so that insulated conductors and conductors with the insulation removed can be connected, and the forces for moving the clamping spring are nevertheless able to remain relatively low. The plunger has clamping arms which engage the conductor in the manner of a fork, and an end portion of the plunger contacts the current carrying strip. The conductor is located in a seating which surrounds the conductor.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A connection terminal for an electrical conductor comprising: a. a body made of an electrical insulating material, said body having a seat formed therein for receiving said conductor;   b. a current strip in said body; and   c. a clamping spring movably mounted in said body, said clamping spring having a generally U-shaped portion which defines a pair of clamping arms, said clamping spring being movable in a plunger-like manner to an operative position wherein when said conductor is received in said seat the inner edges of said arms engage said conductor and the outer edges of said arms engage said strip to electrically connect said conductor to said strip through said arms.   
     
     
       2. In the connection terminal of claim 1, said clamping arms being of inwardly tapered, wedge-shaped cross-sectional configuration so that when the inner edges of said arms engage insulation on said conductor upon inward movement of said clamping spring said arms tend to separate said insulation by simultaneously urging it in opposite axial directions relative to said conductor. 
     
     
       3. In the connection terminal of claim 1, said current strip having a pair of resilient jaws, the outer edges of said clamping arms engaging said jaws to increasingly urge said arms into clamping engagement with said conductor upon inward advancement of said spring into said body. 
     
     
       4. In the connection terminal of claim 3, the inner edges of said clamping arms having cutting edge portions for cutting through insulation on said conductor and clamping edge portions for making electrical contact with said conductor, upon inward movement of said spring into said body, said cutting edge portions passing said conductor prior to the engagement of said conductor by said clamping edge portions, said jaws engaging said arms to urge them into clamping engagement with said conductor only when said clamping edge portions are adjacent said conductor. PG,19 
     
     
       5. In the connection terminal of claim 4, the inner edges of said clamping arms having cleaning edge portions between said cutting edge portions and said clamping edge portions.